Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal say 'film festivals play important role in creating space for diverse stories'
Mumbai, May 22
Bollywood couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal will be attending the official launch of New Zealand's first-ever Indian film festival, The Indian Film Festival of New Zealand on June 2.
The couple reflected on the importance of film festivals and said that it plays an important role in building dialogue and creating space for diverse stories.
Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal said in a joint statement, "We're very happy to be part of the launch of TIFFNZ. Film festivals play an important role in building dialogue and creating space for diverse stories."
The actor-producer duo will headline the launch event, which will also include a special screening of their first-ever production, the internationally celebrated film Girls Will Be Girls.
Girls Will Be Girls is a coming-of-age drama film, written and directed by Shuchi Talati. It stars Preeti Panigrahi, Kani Kusruti, and Kesav Binoy Kiron.
The film is set in a boarding school in the Himalayan foothills, and centers around teenager Mira's romance with a charming new student, her subsequent sexual awakening, and at times strained relationship with her protective mother.
The couple added: "The idea of bringing Indian cinema to New Zealand in a structured, celebratory way feels both timely and meaningful. We're looking forward to supporting this new chapter and engaging with audiences there."
Set to debut in October 2026, TIFFNZ marks a major milestone as New Zealand's first dedicated Indian film festival. Founded by Petrina D'Rozario, the festival aims to celebrate Indian cinema while creating stronger creative ties between India and New Zealand.
The festival itself is envisioned as a four-day celebration of Indian stories across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch with screenings, workshops, cultural events, and industry conversations designed to connect filmmakers, audiences, and creatives from both countries.
As per the statement, the inaugural edition is expected to showcase around 30 films across feature and short formats, highlighting the diversity and global appeal of Indian cinema while also amplifying South Asian voices in Aotearoa.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is a great initiative but I hope they also include regional cinema from different states, not just Hindi films. South Indian, Marathi, Bengali films have so much to offer too 🙏
As someone living in New Zealand, I can't wait for this! The Kiwi-Indian community here is growing fast and we need more platforms showcasing our culture. Girls Will Be Girls is an excellent choice for the screening - it got rave reviews at Sundance.
Good to see Indian artists getting international recognition. But I wonder how much this actually helps independent filmmakers back home. The festival fees and travel costs are often prohibitive for small-budget regional cinema. Hope they have some accessibility programs.
Love seeing cross-cultural collaborations like this! Indian storytelling has such depth - from mythology to modern social issues. Festivals like TIFFNZ help bridge understanding between communities. Hope this inspires similar initiatives in other countries too 🎬✨
Richa and Ali are such a power couple! Their production choices are always meaningful. Girls Will Be Girls sounds like a bold film dealing with teenage sexuality and mother-daughter dynamics - exactly the kind of diverse story that needs international platforms.
Good initiative but I hope they don't just show the same
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